Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been working out this summer with renowned shooting coach Chris Matthews to improve his shooting form.
On Monday night, Matthews took to Twitter to post a short clip that showed off his student’s new shot.
One thing about @kylekuzma he’s never satisfied. Early mornings and late nights are starting to pay off. Changing 8 major key components to his jumper. Balance, higher release etc. Re-versing old muscle memory isn’t easy but with his dedication we will get there. #NBA #Lakers pic.twitter.com/lQMYaxsDq5
— Lethal Shooter (@LethalShooter__) July 15, 2019
Kuzma was the second-leading scorer for the Lakers with 18.7 points per game last season. Though his scoring average went up from 16.1 per game in his rookie year, his 3-point shooting declined from a respectable 36.6 to a far less consistent 30.3 percent.
Christian Rivas of Silver Screen & Roll broke down Kuzma’s 3-point shooting numbers for the 2018-19 season:
“This past season, Kuzma shot 30.3 percent from the field while attempting six 3-pointers per game. Of the 41 players that attempted six or more 3-pointers last season, Kuzma had the worst 3-point percentage. Trae Young, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic and Carmelo Anthony rounded out the bottom-five.
“It’s natural for players to become less efficient scorers when they take more shots, but the way Kuzma missed shots last season was concerning. Last season, the 23-year-old forward made 31.9 percent of his ‘wide open’ 3-point attempts and 29.1 percent of his ‘open’ 3-point attempts. In the season prior, he shot 39 percent and 36.5 percent respectively.”
It takes a while for players to become comfortable with a different shooting form and release, particularly after they get used to wrong habits prior to entering the league. But Kuzma’s hard work this offseason could pay off eventually when the 2019-20 regular season begins.
Laker fans can only hope that Kuzma’s time working with Matthews makes a significant impact on his contribution to the team. The fact that the Lakers kept him off the deal for big man Anthony Davis speaks volumes about how much the organization values him.
If Kuzma can improve his shooting to 40 percent from behind the arc and average 20 or more points for the 2019-20 season, he has an opportunity to become an All-Star for the first time in his career.
